Morning Chop: Injury Edition 7/13
Jul 12, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) checks on center fielder B.J. Upton (2) with the team trainer in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Braves recall Constanza for ailing outfield
The Braves recalled outfielder Jose Constanza from Triple-A Gwinnett after Friday’s game for some desperately needed help in the outfield. All three of the Braves starting outfielders are nursing muscle strains.
Jason Heyward left Thursday’s game with a strained right hamstring, and both B.J. Upton (right adductor) and Justin Upton (left calf) left Friday night’s game with injuries as well. All three will be evaluated on Saturday, which is when the Braves will announce a corresponding roster move.
Braves lose Uptons, fall after Medlen’s rough outing
Opening Day outfielders all questionable as Braves approach break
ATLANTA — With all three Opening Day outfielders sidelined due to injuries by Friday night’s final pitch, a shorthanded Braves lineup struggled to solve Reds starter Bronson Arroyo on the way to a 4-2 loss in front of a Turner Field crowd that left stunned at the attrition wrought by a mere 24-hour span of baseball.
Braves postgame quotes after Friday’s loss
AJC.com (Subscription Section)
FREDI GONZALEZ
On if sign of the times for Medlen:
"Well we just got behind the 8-ball from the very beginning. I thought our bullpen did a terrific job, Woody especially in those middle innings. It was one of those games you could really ran three or four pitchers out of the bullpen or even more. Woody gave us those (3 2/3) innings that kept them in check and gave us a chance to get back in it. And you feel in pretty good shape when you’ve got McCann at the plate down two runs and get a chance to tie it at least."
On assessing outfield situation:
"We’re talking through it right now. We’ve got three guys banged up. We’re not going to make a decision right now but in about 20, 30 minutes we’re going to talk through some different scenarios, some situations and some different options we could have to get a body up here tomorrow."
On if a chance any of the three could play Saturday:
"I don’t know. We’ll see. I know Jason is getting better throughout the course of the day. He came in this afternoon, felt a little better. (Jeff Porter) said he responded to some treatment. But we’ll see again tomorrow."
On if any consideration to bringing up Gattis after only one game on injury rehab:
"No. I don’t think so. I think that’s pushing the envelope and putting another guy in a situation where he could reinjure it or fail. That’s kind of risky."
JUSTIN UPTON
On his injury:
"My calf kind of locked up on me and that was it, halfway down the line. It’s calmed down. It’s a little sore. We’re kind of going to play it by ear tomorrow."
BJ UPTON
On what happened on the play:
"I just kind of jammed my knee into the ground going after the ball and just kind of jerked my leg outward and felt a little something in it."
On all three outfielders going down a matter of 24 hours:
"Yeah I don’t know. It must be something in the water I don’t know. Unfortunately it goes that way sometimes. We’re a good enough ball club to get things done and luckily we have the All-Star break coming up to get some guys some rest."
KRIS MEDLEN
On his night:
"It’s the same mechanical issues I’ve really dealt with all year. I’m not giving up many hits on my change-up. It’s been all my fastball with location and the same exact things I’ve been dealing with. I’ve been pulling off. I’ll go and look at my mechanics (on video) every game and I’m doing the same things. I’m trying to make adjustments and when it comes down to in the game, making the adjustments stick, it just hasn’t got there for me. I’ll throw a really good fastball on the corner for one pitch and then four out of the next five are just right down the middle. Feel like I’m throwing some good change-ups up there. The first time through the lineup I didn’t throw my curveball very well. I was bouncing it and whatever else. My second and third time through, I was throwing it for strikes better. They were taking that, so I tried to utilize that and tried to throw that for strikes. But when I tried that fastball on the corner to get a guy out, it just came back middle. Votto’s double to the corner. I was 3-2 to a lot of guys and I don’t like walking guys. I’d rather have a guy hopefully roll over on a ball when I’m trying to challenge him with 89. Frustrating. Two starts in a row where I gave up a couple runs in the first and put us in a hole. Alex Wood did an unbelievable job. I’ve been in that situation a few times in my tenure here. I think the last time somebody came in with the bases loaded out of the bullpen against Cincinnati it was in Cincinnati and it was me and I gave up a grand slam. I told him that afterwards and I was like ‘Dude, good job.’ That’s a really tough thing to get out of especially given the circumstances. To give up only one run out of that it’s a pretty big deal."
[Editorial Note]: At Tomahawk Take, we’re committed to staying on top of these injury situations, and reporting to the fans the latest information. Check back often for updates, reports, and breaking news. Let’s all hope these injuries won’t be severe, and thus not adversely affect our beloved players or team. If the timing can ever be good for injuries, it’s now as we approach the break. That said, there’s still a couple games to play. Let’s all root for good news about the injuries today, and also root for Reed Johnson, Joey Terdoslavich, and others to step it up.